Device for operating markers of corn-planters.



DEVICE FR OPERATING MARKERS 0F CORN PLINTERS.-

.(Illu Model.)

(Application led Falz!Y 7, 1901.)

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v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM, `OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

oEvloE FOR OPERATING MARKERS oF oo RN-PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,198, dated May 14,1901.

Application led February 7, 1901. Serial No. 46,371. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern;

of Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and Improved Device for Operating the Markers of Corn- Planters,of which the followingis a`full,clear, and exact description.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a device adaptable to anycorn-planter whereby the marker may be quickly and conveniently raisedby the foot of the driver to free the marker from any trash which may begathered thereby or which may'cling thereto, thus securing a plain markduringthe planting process and facilitating the straight planting ofcorn.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct the device of thecharacter described that the marker may be quickly raised to clear arock, stump, or other obstruction and may be as quickly lowered withoutundue exertion on the part of the driver.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fullyset forth, and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a planter and its marker, illustratingthe application of the improvement to the planter and marker. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side elevation of the attachment and a partial sectionalview of the seat and a partial view of one of the wheels, and Fig. 3 isa transverse section through the lower portion of the body-section ofthe attachment.

A represents a planter, which may be of any desired type. B representsthe seat for the planter, and C the marker-arm, which is pivotallyattached to the planter and is capable of swinging upward and downwardorto or from the ground. The body portion of the device consists of alever 10, in which a series of apertures 11 is produced, so that throughthe medium of bolts 12 a foot-rest, foot-bar, or stirrnp 13 may be adjustably attached to said lever 10 to accommodate the operator. An eye 14is formed at the upper end of the lever 10, and a rope or chain 15 oritsequivalent is attached to the said lever at the eye 14. This rope, cord,or chain l5 is passed over a pulley 16, usually attached to the driversseat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

theV opposite end of the said rope, cord, or-

. as illustrated in Fig. 2. This clamping member of the device comprisesa lower section 18, having` twin eyes 19 at one end to receive betweenthem the lower end of the lever l0, and a suitable bolt 20 is passedthrough the eyes and the lower portion of the lever, so

that the lever is pivotally attached to the clamping member. The lowersection 18 of the clamping member is provided at its opposite end with aseinicircular portion 2l, the upper face of which semicircular portionis preferably concaved.

In addition to the lower section 18 of the clamp a shorter and uppersection 22 is provided. 'This shorter and upper section 22 is providedwith a semicircular portion 23 at what may be termed its rear end, whoseunder face is concave, and this portion 23 of the upper section 22 ofthe clamp is pivoted or hinged to a corresponding portion 21 of thelower section by suitable knuckles and pins 24:, and the space betweenthe curved or enlarged portions 2l and 23 of the sections of the clampis such that the said space when the sections of the clamp are lockedtogether will snugly receive the axle E.

A threaded opening 25 is made in the top of the enlarged portion 23 ofthe upper section of the clamp, and this threaded opening is adapted toreceive a set-screw 25a, which extends tothe axle E and serves to assistin holding the clamp thereon. The forward por- 'tion 26 of the uppersection of the clampE is flat and lies closely upon the body orintermediate portion of the lower section 18 of the clamp. This forwardportion 26 ofthe upper section of the clamp D is bifurcated or providedwith a slot 27, as is illustrated best in Fig. 3, and the body orintermediate portion of the lower section 18 of the clamp, just be- IOOlow the slot 27, is provided with a conical opening28, adaptedto receivea bolt 29, provided with a suitable head at its bottom and a nut 30 atthe top. This bolt secures theV forward portions of the two sections ofthe clamp together, and when the clamp is to be removed from the axlethe nut30 is loosenedl opening 28 in the bottom section of the clamp.

In operation it will be observed that if the driver presses thefootpiece 13 forward with the foot the end of the marker which is inengagement with the ground will be immediately raised with but littleeffort on the part of the operator, and as soon as the lever 10 isrelieved from outward pressure the marker will at once drop to workingposition.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A device for operating the markers of corn-planters,comprising a lever having one end adapted for connection with themarker, and a clamp to which the opposite end of the lever is pivoted,which clamp is adapted for attachment to a portion of a planter, as setforth.

2. A device for operating the markers of corn-planters, comprising alever, a foot-rest adjustable upon the lever, and a clamp pivotallyattached to said lever, which clamp is constructed in hinged sectionshaving a bolt connection, the opposing faces of the two sections beingprovided with an opening adapted to receive the axle of a planter orlike support, as described.

3. A marker for corn-planters, consisting of a lever having its upperend adapted for attachment to a marker, a foot-rest carried by the saidlever, and a clamp pivotally attached to the opposite end of the lever,which clamp is constructed in hinged sections, the sections havingregistering recesses in opposite faces, forming an opening adapted torecei ve an axle or like support, a set-screw carried by the uppersection of the clamp, extending into its recessed portion, the free endof the upper section having a slot therein, the lower section beingprovided with a registering conical opening, and a bolt passed throughsaid opening and through the opening in the bottom section of the clampand the slot in the upper section of the clamp, for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination,with a planter, its axle, seat and a marker having apivotalconnee tion with the planter, of a lever which extends upward indirection of the seat at the front thereof, a foot-rest secured to thelever, a clamp removably attached to the axle and pivotally connectedWith the lever, a pulley located ou the seat, and a cord, ropeorchainattached to the upper end of the lever, which rope, cord or chain ispassed over the said pulley and is connected with the marker near itsouter end, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed `my name to this specification inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

WESLEY SPITLER, JNO. G. THoDE.

